Trestle assembling device



Sept. 13, 1932. c. T. STRAND 1,876,787

TRESTLE ASSEMBLING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1929 FIG. 3.

/ INVENTOR C. T. STRAND ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1932 PATENT sslcr.

CHRISTIAN T. STRAND, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA;

'rnnsrtn ASSEMBLING DEVICE Application filed. .Tune 19,

tremely rigid structure, thereby producing a horse which is a decid-edimprovement over the conventional non-folding horse, inasmuch as the latter practically invariably becomes unstable after having'been in service for any appreciable length of time.

A further object is the provision of an assembling device for a folding trestle, which is of very simple nature, and hence relatively inexpensive to manufacture andeasyto apply, and which may be employed by the ordinary carpenter or other mechanic as a means of inter-connecting the body bar and legs of an otherwise conventional sawhorse. In respect to this object, the assembling device is ,designed with the idea in mind of facilitating the transportation of the horse after completion, from place to place. Heretofore, it has been customary for a carpenter to con- 5 struct a new sawhorse whenever he starts work upon a new location, and. to discard the horse after that particular ob has been completed. Obviously, this procedure is relatively expensive, inasmuch as it entails a Waste of both time and material. Further more, inasmuch as such a sawhorse is usually constructed as quickly and as cheaply as possible, this conventional type of non-folding horse, is more or less unsatisfactory, inas- 45 much as the joints betweenthe body bar and legs, soon work loose, permitting the entire structure to wobble, which obviously detracts from the efficiency of the workmen employing the structure. Furthermore, the legs be tended to operative position, presents an exing attached to the sides of the body barby 1929. Serial No. 372,179.

nails, continued use of the horse results in these nails working loose, permitting the upper ends of the legs to project slightly beyond the upper face ofthe body bar, thus destroying the previously level surface thereof, and resulting in considerable 'inconvenience, inasmuch as boards and other articles will n-ot lie perfectly level when supported thereupon. It is with the purpose of elimi} 'nating all these undesirable features of the conventional sawhorse, that the assembling device of .the present invention, has been developed.

,Another object is the provision of an assembling. device as described, in which no part thereof. other than those portions actually disposedbetween the legs of the trestle, is of greater width than the ordinary sized body baremployed for such saw horses. The purpose of this detail of construction is to avoid the danger of contact of edged tools such as a saw or chisel, with the metal of which the assembling device is constructed. The invention possesses otherobjec'ts and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiment which is' illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing: V

Figure 1'is an end elevation of atrestle, in the construction of which the improved assembling device of the present invention, has been employed. Portions of the'figure are broken away to reduce its length; and the di} rectionof view is indicated by the arrow lcof g I I b Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, of the tres tle of Fig. 1. But one end of the trestle and the upper end of an associated leg are shown, in order to reduce the size of the figure;

.Fig. .3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the'parts moved to those positions occupied thereby when the trestle is folded;

1 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the leg-attaching member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a slightly modified formof leg-attaching member;

Fig. '6 is aperspectiveview of the brace and its means of attachment to the trestle. Portions of the figure are broken away to reduce its length.

Specifically describing the assembling device in the most practical embodiment thereof of which I am at present aware, it is composed of two essential parts, to wit: the legattaching'member 11 or 11 shown in detail upon Figs. 4 and 5 respectively, and the bracing member 12 shown in detail upon Fig. 6. These two members are employed for releasably and rigidly'retaining in operative position, the substantially horizontally dispose d body bar 13, which is preferably composed of wood or other non-metallic material, and the supporting legs 14 therefor.

The bracing member 12 comprises a rigid strip 16 pivotally attached as by a rivet or other suitable pin 17, to an attaching member 18 of anysuitable description. As shown, the brace attaching member 18 comprises a relatively short length of angle iron, one leg 19 of which is provided with holes 21 through which screws or their equivalent may be driven into the under face of the body bar 13, to rigidly attach the attaching member 18 thereto. The other leg 22 is provided with a single aperture through which the pin extends in order to pivotally attach the strip 16 to the attaching. member 18.

The brace-attaching member 18 should be secured to the under face of the body bar 13, at a point spaced a considerable distance from that at which the legs 1.4 are attached, as best shown upon Fig. 2. This permits the strip 16 to be so disposed that it inclines downwards toward the legs 14, between which is positioned a cross bar 26. This cross bar is rigidly attached to the lower end of the strip 16, as by rivets 26 or their equivalentthe lower end of the strip 16 being disposed me dially of the cross bar 26. Each end of the cross bar 26 is deflected to provide an at taching flange 27, each of which is provided .with an angularly disposed slot 28, wherein a bolt 29 may be accommodated so as to fasten one of the legs 14 to each flange 27 a wing nut 30 or its equivalent being provided upon each of the bolts 29, to permit tightening. Inasmuch as the legs 14 divergeas they extenddownwards from the bar 13, the cross bar 26 is elongated, and the flanges 27 are each disposed at an acute angle with the body portion of the cross bar 26, as clearly shown on -F1g. 2. y g

The bracing member 12 is also provided with a strap 31 rigidly secured to the strip 16' intermediate itsends, as by rivets 32 or their equivalent. The strap 31 extends on both sides of the strip 16, thus providing aflnger on each side thereof, against which a saw, square, or other tool may be leaned, and thus afi'ord convenience to the user by retaining such tools easily accessible.

ends of the strap 31 upwards; and it is found that these flanges aid in retaining the tools as placed. Preferably the rivets 32 are not positioned at the center of the strap 31, with the result that one of the fingers is longer than the other; the purpose being to design the strap so that the longer finger is of suflicient length to accommodate the handle of a saw or other tool of equal thickness, whereas the shorter finger will accommodate a relatively thin square. V

The leg-attaching member 11 comprises spaced angular members 36, each comprising a horizontal flange 37, and a flange 38 extending downwards therefrom at an acute angle therewith. These two members are retained in spaced relationship by means of an inverted U-shaped strap 39 to which the members 36 are rigidly attached as by rivets 40 or their equivalent. The U-shaped strap 39 is so constructed that the legs 4-1 thereof, flare downwards at an angle equal to the angle at which it is desired that the legs 14- diverge; and the parts are so proportioned and arranged that the flanges 38 of the members 36 diverge at this same angle when the attaching member 11 is assembled. Holes 42 are provided in the horizontal flanges 37 which are in horizontal alignment, thereby permitting the attaching member 11 to be rigidly attached to the under face of the body bar 13, by screws or theirequivalent. A single hole 43 is formed through the lower end of each of the legs 41"ofthe strap 39, and through the adjacent portion of the associated flange 38, thus permitting the insertion of a fastening bolt 44 having a wing nut 45 thereupon, and by means of which a leg 14 may be pivotally attached to each of the leg flanges 38.

A slightly modified form of leg-attaching memberll is disclosed upon F ig. 5. Here the leg flanges 38 are retained in spaced relationship by means oi: their end flanges 46. The flanges 46 of both leg flanges 38, are rigidly interconnected by rivets 47 or their equivalent. This attaching member 11 may be constructed of two identical die stampings, with the result that it is relatively inexpensive to construct. lVith the exception of the substitution of the end flanges 46 for the U- shaped strap 39 of the other modification, the attaching member 11 is identical in construction and manner of employment as that previously described.

WVhereas the figures show but one end ofa trestle constructed by means of my improved assembling device, it will be readily understood that I contemplate employing a pair of legs 14 secured adjacent each end of the body bar 13, by means of one of the attaching members 11, or 11, and each pair of legs 14 being provided with a bracing member 12.

The trestle is extended to operative position by swinging the legs 14 downwards from the Flanges 33 are formed by bending both position shown upon, Fig. 3, until they have amaze:

slightly passed positions of perpendicularity; with the horizontally disposed body member 13,: If the. inner uppercorner ofreachleg is rounded as at 51, to' present an are about: a celtteiicoinc'ident with: the axisof the .bolt 44 by which the leg is attached to the attaching member 11, and the outer upper corner 52 cut so that the corner 52 comes in contact with the under. face of the associated horizontal flange 37 when the leg has been moved to extended position as indicated upon Fig. 2, a much more rigid structure will be produced. After each leg 14 has been moved to this position, the bracing member 12 should be so disposed that the bolts 29 pass through the slots 28 in the flanges 27 of the crossbar 26, whereupon the wing nuts may be tightened to rigidly secure the bracing member 12 in position.

When so assembled, it will be found that the resultant horse is extremely rigid, devoid of any possible end sway or other movement in which the legs 14 and body bar 13 shift in respect to each other. This rigidity obviously will result in the great convenience afforded to the user.

Another feature which should be here mentioned, is that the assembling device does not project beyond the sides of the horizontally disposed body bar 13. This feature is of importance inasmuch as it precludes the possibility of the users inadvertently permitting his edged tools such as saws, chisels and the like, from coming in contact with any metal parts of the horse. The only metal portions of the entire structure which are not entirely below the horizontal bar 13, are the cross bar 26 and the heads of the bolts 29 and 44; and inasmuch as these portionsof the device are actually in the plane of. both associated legs 14, there is no danger of edged tools coming in contact therewith before first encountering the wood of which the legs 14 are ordinarily constructed.

When it is desired to fold the trestle,the wing nuts 30 should be loosened, permitting disengagement of the cross bars 26 from their associated legs 14. The legs 14 may then be folded into substantial parallelism with the j body bar 13; and the bracing member 12 may be folded up against the under side of the body bar 13, this position being indicated upon Fig. 3. I The strip 16 forming the body portion of the bracing member 12, should be of such length and should have its pivoted end so positioned with respect to the associated leg-attaching member that when the trestle is folded the crossbar 26 will be positioned beyond the'upper ends of the associated legs 14. The upper ends of these legs become exposed at the end of the trestle when the legs are folded up against the under face of the bar 18, and will be protected by the crossbar 26 against injury during transportation of the trestle in folded arrangement.

possible to swing the legs to extended position, ,or'wwo'uld result in imposing the weight of the .body bar 13 upon the pivotbolt 44 m steadlof upon the end of the leg. However, a

moreimporttint. reason for so proportioning and arranging the parts is that by so doing theqstrip 16 is permitted to fold up closely against theiunder side of the bodybar13 with the crossbar extending across the exposed upper ends of the legs and with the strip 16 lying between the foldedlegs, thus reducing the entire device to'relatively small dimensions. If it be-desired to stow the device in a still smallerspace than that made possible by folding the legs 14 against the bar13, thelegs 14may'be completely removed by disengagement of the'wingnuts 45 from their respective pivot'bolts 44. I

It is to beu'nderstood that the invention as herein disclosed,-are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims; :Iclaimja 1 1. 1n an assembling device for a trestle'in' a eluding abody bar and a pair of legs, means for pivoting said legs to said body bar ad-- jacent an end thereof to-be optionally extended therefrom or folded thereagainst extend ing toward the other end thereof, and-abrace member .comprlsmg a brace, means for plvotally securing the-upper end of; the brace to said bodybar, a crossbar secured to the low-- or end. of said I brace, and disengageable meansat each end of said crossbar for attachln'g said crossbar to'one of said legs, said brace being foldable toward the under side of said body bar to lie between said legs when the legs are folded against the body bar with said crossbar extending across the exposedupper ends of said legs. p

2. In an assembling device for a trestle including a bodyvbar and a pair of legs, means for pivoting said legs to said body baradjacent an end thereof to be optionally extended therefrom or foldedthereagainst extending towardthe other end thereof, and a' bracemember comprising a brace, means for? pivotally securing the upper end'of the brace tosaidbOdy bar,ia crossbar secured to the lower endof said brace, and disengageable' means at-each end of said crossbar for at taching said crossbar to one of said 'legs*, said brace being foldable toward the under side of said'body bar to lie between said legs when the details of the legs are folded against the body bar with said crossbar extending across the exposed upper ends .of saidlegs, and disposed between said exposed ends and the associated end of said body bar. v

3.. A trestle comprising a non-metallic body bar and legs extending downwards therefrom, a leg-attaching member comprising horizontal flanges secured to the under side of said bar, and leg flanges extending downwards therefrom, means pivoting each of said legs to one of said leg flanges, a bracing member comprising a brace pivotally secured at one end to the under face of said body bar, anda crossbar rigid therewith and removably engageable at each end with the inner face of one of said legs, said trestle presenting non-metallic top and side areas throughout substantially the entire extent of said body bar; r

.4. A bracing means, in'combination with a trestle comprising a body bar and divergent legs extending downward therefrom, a bracing member comprising a rigid strip, means for" attaching one end of said strip to the under surface of said body bar with the strip inclining downwards therefrom toward said legs, a crossbar'rigid with the lower end of said strip and extending laterally on both sides thereof, an attaching flange on each end of said crossbar extending at an acute angle therewith to present a face adapted to lie flat against the inner face of one of said legs, and means for attaching each of said flanges to the associated leg.

5. A folding trestle comprising a body bar, an angular member rigid with said bar and having a flange extending downwards therefrom, a leg pivoted to said flange for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said flange, the upper inner corner of said leg being rounded about the axis of the pivotal connection whereby said leg is free to swing upwards towards said body bar, and the upper outer corner of said leg engaging the undersurface of said bar when in extended relation, and releasable means for retaining said leg in extended position 6. A folding trestle comprising a body bar, an-angular member rigid with said bar andhaving a flange extending downwards therefrom, a leg pivoted to said flange for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said flange, the upper inner corner of said leg being rounded about the axis of the pivotal connection whereby said leg is free to swing upwards towards said body bar, and the upper outer corner of said leg engaging the undersurface of said bar when in extended relation, and a bracing member comprising a strip pivotally secured to the under surface of said body bar, a crossbar at the lower end of said strip and releasable means for attaching each end of name to this specification.

CHRISTIAN T. STRAND. 

